Dominic Balli

American Dream
Red Song Music

Self-described as “Cali-rock-reggae,” Dominic Balli’s first commercial record follows his 2008 independent release, “Public Announcement,” which ranked among iTunes’ top 30 reggae records for 2008.

You won’t hear any soaring guitars in this record; there’s not a growling power chord to be found. But the pop-flavored syncopated Latin and reggae rhythms move the well-written lyrics along just fine, thank you.

One of the more lyrically unusual pieces is “Twenty Seventeen,” a reggae-flavored retelling of Israel’s defeat of Moab and Ammon through the simple act of praise, as described in 2 Chronicles 20. “Favela,” recorded with Brazilian reggae artist Nengo Vieria, is perhaps the album’s strongest song.